Electric plug



June 17, 1941.` H. H. KRAUss ELECTRIC PLUG Filed Sept. 25, 1939 IE III.

Patented June 17, 194i 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to electric plugs of a type provided with a pair of contact prongs adapted for forming a circuit connection with an electrical receptacle or iixture and has for its primary object to provide a plug construction for breaking the circuit with the prongs whereby to (ci. 20o-51) From the foregoing it will be apparent that the inner ends ib of the prongs will be yieldably maintained out of contacting engagement with prevent the danger of a person receiving a shock by coming into contact with the exposed ends of the prongs.

. A further object is to provide an electric plug oi this character of vsimple and practical construction, which is eicient and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction as more fully hereinafter describedand claimed, reference being had' to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view and Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on aline 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail the numeral 5 designates the cylindrical insulated body portion of the plug within which a pair of conductors B are embedded having the circuit wires 'l connected thereto by means of terminals 8, the terminals and connected ends of the wires being enclosed by a cap 9 threaded on one end oi the body portion E of the plug.

The body 5 is provided with a central opening within which is tted a sponge rubber core l,

the conductors 5 being positioned at diametriv cally opposite sides of the core and exposed through lateral openings il extending in diametrical-ly opposite sides of the body E. The sponge rubber core l is compressed between the conductors and the free end oi the conductors terminate short of the outer end ci the sponge rubber core whereby to permit the sides ofthe core to bulge outwardly beyond the longitudinal plane of the conductors 6, as shown at l2.

A pair of contact prongs i3 are pivoted on pins It within the outer end of the body E ofthe plug, the pivot pins It being positioned slightly outwardly with respect to the bulged edges i2 of the core. The inner ends of the prongs i3 are formed with lateral inwardly extending oilsets i to bear against the side oi the conductors 8 to provide a circuit connection therewith. 'Ihe inner ends of the prongs are also provided with insulation knobs I8 which project outwardly of the lateral openings li.

the conductors t by reason of the bulging sides i2 oi' the sponge rubber core, as shown by the full line of Fig. 1 oi the drawing and accordingly the circuit connection with the prongs will be broken. However when it is desired to insert the plug into a receptacle the knobs i8 are pressed inwardly into the position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 whereby the inner ends oi' the prongs will contact the conductors to provide a circuit connection with the prongs.

It is `believed the details of construction and manner oi' use of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

What is claimed is:

l. An electric plug comprising a rigid bodyl portion having conductors pitioned therein, a

pair of prongs pivoted to said Abody portion and having one end movable into contacting engagement with the conductors and a yieldable solid 'body carried by the rigid body and compressed by the prongs when the prongs are in contacting engagement, said yieldable body being adapted to normally urge the prongs out of contacting engagement.

2. An electric plug comprising a rigid body portion having conductors positioned therein, a pair of prongs pivoted to said body portion and having one end movable into contacting engagement with the conductors, a yieldable solid body carried by the nrst named body and compressed by the prongs when the prongs are in contacting engagement, said yieldable body being adapted to normally urge the prongs out of contacting engagement, said yieldable body possessing insulation qualities.

3. An electric plug comprising an insulation body, a pair oi conductors positioned therein in spaced relation, a sponge rubber core fitted in said body and having one end compressed between said conductors, the other end of the core protruding laterally outwardly beyond the conductors, a pair of prongs pivotally carried by the body and engageable by the bulging end oi the core inwardly of the pivot of the prongs to yieldably maintain one end of the prongs out of engagement with the conductors and insulation knobs carried by the prongs for manually moving the inner ends oi' the prongs into contacting engagement with said conductors.

- 4. An electric plug comprising a rigid body having conductors positioned therein, a pairot 2 aacspse contacts movably carried by the body and having one end movable into contacting engagement with the conductors and a yieldahle solid body having one end anchored in the rst named body and having its other end free and normally compressed between said contacts to urge the same from said conductors.

5. An electric plug comprising a. rigid body having conductors positioned therein. c. pair of pmigs pivoted to said body and having one end movable into contacting engagement with the conductor and a yieldable solid body having one end anchored in the first named body and having its other end free and normally compressed between said prongs to urge the prongs from said conductors.

HERMAN. H. KRAUBS. 

